Photographic implement for development of objects carrying sensitive layers



July 10. 1956 o KRAUSE 2,753,779 PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPLEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTS CARRYING SENSITIVE LAYERS Filed Oct. 51, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: W IV- 1 use July 10. 1956 o. w. KRAUSE 2,753,779

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPLEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTS CARRYING SENSITIVE LAYERS FIled Oct 31 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 5

0660 W lfl-ause July 10. 1956 o. w. KRAUSE PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPLEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTS CARRYING SENSITIVE LAYERS 4 Sheets-Sham Filed 001;. 51, 1952 mmmn QRMQ

OZo W Kra s July 10. 1956 o. w. KRAUSE 2,753,779

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPLEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF OBJECTS CARRYING SENSITIVE LAYERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 31, 1952 United States Patent Office 2,753,779 Patented July 10, 1956 2,753,779 PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPLEMENT FOR DEVELOP- MENT OF OBJECTS CARRYING SENSITIVE The invention relates to a photographic implement for development of objects or articles carrying a sensitive layer, said implements being formed like a portable frame which is put into a container containing a developing fluid.

According to one feature of the invention an implement is obtained which is superior to any similar apparatuses, especially by the fact, that it may be used for developing films as well as photographic plates of glass and prints in the same manner, and may be adjusted in the simplest way to suit the different film and plate sizes.

For this purpose, according to another feature of the invention, the lateral plates of the frame, which are connected to each other by bolts, are so adjustable in their distance from each other that they suit to the different widths of the layer carrying lateral plates are connected to each other by connecting rods having at the one end a plurality of bayonet-like notches into which a stop-dog provided within the hole belonging to the respective plate may catch alternately, so as to determine the width of the formed frame. On the other end of the connecting rods the respective lateral plate is held by a screwing connection, so that at the same time the connecting rods are prevented from being turned after the frame has been assembled. The lateral plates receiving the layer carrying objects have on opposite side faces grooves and can so be mounted that selectively, either the one or the other of the grooves on the sides of the lateral plates may be in working position. The grooves on the one side of the lateral plates are straight so as to hold photographic plates of glass or prints, whereas the grooves on the other side of the lateral plates are curved for holding films.

According to a further feature of the invention the grooves, especially the straight grooves, which serve to hold plates or prints are constructed for practical reasons of suificient widths, to enable the developing fluid to pass freely over the edges of the plates. These grooves may also be left open at their bottom ends. In the latter case, according to the invention, an arrangement is provided for holding the bottom edges of the layer carrying objects.

Also the curved grooves receiving the films are held, according to the invention, sufliciently wide to enable the films to lie unhampered within these grooves where they are held within them by humps or projections provided at the side walls of the grooves.

Furthermore, according to the invention, there is provided an attachable device, so as to guide the films into the grooves; this guiding device may be placed on the upper edge of the lateral plates and is preferably constructed in the manner of a grate.

Further features of the invention may be taken from thefollowing explanations and the drawings, which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the assembled apparatus.

Fig. 2 a lateral view of Fig. 1, seen from the left.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1 in the direction of the line IIIIII, seen in the direction of the arrow.

objects. Preferably the Fig. 4 shows the upper part of Fig. 3 and illustrates the entry of films by an attachment device.

Figs. 57 show this attachment device, Fig. 5 being a front view of it, Fig. 6 a plan view of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 a cross section in the direction of the line VIIVII in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the implement according to the invention, similar to Fig. 1, the grooves being open at the bottom.

Fig. 9 is a lateral view of Fig. 8, seen from the left.

Fig. 10 is a cross section of Fig. 8 in the direction of the line XX, seen in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 11 shows the upper part of a lateral plate of the frame in connection with an arrangement to keep the films down.

Fig. 12 shows separately the device that keeps the films down, as a lateral view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a cross section of the lower connecting rod of the lateral plates with an arrangement to restrict the downward movement of films, plates or prints, taken along the line XlIIXIlI of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a ground-plan of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows the upper part of Fig. 10 in connection with a modified form of an attachment device for guiding the films.

Fig. 16 is a cross section itself.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of Fig. 16.

The implement consists mainly of two lateral plates 2 and 3, which are kept a certain distance from each other by an upper and lower connecting rods 4 and 5. For this purpose, the one end of the two connecting rods 4 and 5 and the holes of the side plate 2, through which these ends pass are constructed like a bayonet catch, suchwise that a longitudinal groove 6 is provided, starting at one end, from which other grooves 7 run over a part of the circumference of the rods in certain distances from each other. The grooves 7 extend over a little more than of the circumference of the rods. Plate 2 has holes through which rods 4 and 5 can pass and within these holes there are stop dogs 8. These stop dogs 8 are situated in the interior of the holes of the laterial plates. Therefore it is possible to guide the rods 4 and 5 into these holes in such a manner, that the stop dogs will glide along inside of the grooves 6 and then, by turning the rods by 90 around their axis, the stop dogs will enter the partly circumferential grooves 7, thereby preventing the rods from moving axially relatively to the lateral plates 2. To get different distances between the lateral plates 2 and 3 it will be necessary to choose different grooves 7. In Fig. 1 the different positions of the lateral plate 2 are shown in full and dash-dotted lines. The latter ones are used for developing objects of smaller sizes. The grooves 7 arranged in such a manner that the distances between plates 2 and 3, in their individual positions, correspond to the usual widths of films and photographic plates.

The connecting rods 4 and 5 have a collar 9 each at its end directed towards the lateral plate 3, so that the latter rest against the collar. The end extending beyond the collar is threaded, and has a longitudinal keyway 10. Plate 3 has corresponding holes, through which this threaded part may pass. In this hole there is a stopdog 11, adapted to engage the key way 10. On the outside a nut 12 is screwed on to each of the threaded ends. The stop-dogs 8 and 11 are arranged in such angular positions relatively to each other, that the stop dogs 11 can only enter the key-ways (10) of the threaded parts of the connecting rods 4 and 5, if these rods are turned around into such a position, that the stop-dogs 8 of of the attachment device by plates 2 are in their proper places in one of the grooves 7. If plate 3 is pushed on the connecting rods at this position,

and the nuts screwed onto the threads tightly against the lateral plate 3 then the whole frame is rigidly assembled; that is to say, that the rods are safe from being turned and from being .axially displaced relatively to the lateral plates.

On the upper connecting rod 4, there is a handle 13 to carry the implement. This handle has a number of holes 14, so .arranged, that with the different positions of plate 2, there will be one of the holes always in about the centre between the plates 2 and '3, so that in :every position there will be a hole which may be used to hang up the whole implement in the place of its center of gravity.

The two lateral plates 2 and 3 are designed so as to be adapted to receive photographic plates or prints as well as films. For this purpose each of the lateral plates has on the one side, i. e. in the illustration of Fig. 1 on the outer side, rectilinear vertical grooves 15. Fig. 2 shows six of :such grooves and into these grooves photographic plates, prints or other straight objects to be developed may be inserted, provided that the lateral plates 2 and 3 are so positioned, that the mentioned grooved sides face each other, that is to say, that they face inside of the assembled implement. These grooves (Fig. 2) are open at the top and closed at the bottom. The top ends of the grooves of the lateral plates have feeling notches, projections, or similar devices 16, which serve the person who is working with the implement in the :dark as an indication where the respective grooves lie, so that he may be able to guide the plates correctly into the grooves. Within the grooves and between them the lateral plates 2 and 3 have perforations 17 through which the developing liquid may freely pass, so that it might get around the plates, films or other developing objects.

On the other side of the lateral plates 2 and 3 there are curved :grOOVeS 18 (Fig. 3) of which there are also six in number and which serve to take up six films.

The grooves are curved so as to give the films that are inserted into these, a greater stability and to prevent them from being pushed out of their positions by the pressure of the liquid, while the whole implement is moved. These grooves 18, are also closed at the bottom and open at the top in order to insert film. Here again are perforations 19, which partly correspond with the perforations 17 so that the lateral plates are entirely perforated at these places .in order to allow the developing fluid to .pass through freely. The perforations -17 and 19 go about as deep as the middle of the thickness of the lateral plates 2 and 3.

In the modified construction according to Figs. :8l0 guiding projections 31 distributed over the height of the whole plates 52 and 53 may be used for keeping the photographic plates to be inserted instead of the grooves extending from top to bottom. These projections :are sufficiently narrow to allow a plate to slide between them in the longitudinal direction with comparatively great lateral play. The developing liquid can therefore freely spread over the plates and moisten the whole surface of same. Between the guiding projections .31 there are perforations 32, through which the liquid may also pass. In Fig. 9 these perforations are omitted, for clearnes sake, here the projections are shown only. On the left half .of Fig. 9, the bottom ends of the guides formed by the guiding projections 31 are closed so as to hold the plates. As a modification, the grooves maybe left open at the bottom. Then the .plates must he supported by a special arrangement, that is fastened preferably to the lower connecting .rod 55, .as will be shown lateron.

The grooves 33 serving to take up films (-F-ig. 10.) are made particularly wide, .and on the intermediate walls 34 forming the grooves 33 projecting humps 35 ,are provided extending into the grooves and serving to guide and to hold the films inserted therein. The films have therefore a good guidance within these grooves on the one hand and .on the other hand the treating liquid has free access, thereby avoiding insufiicicntly developed spots on the edges of the films.

These grooves are open at their bottom ends. To keep the films and, if desired, also the plates or other objects to be developed in their proper positions if the grooves are open at their bottom, according to the invention a piece 36 is fixed cross-ways onto the connecting rod 55, which can be seen in detail from Figures 13 :and 14. This cross piece has a half round middle part, fastened to a corresponding recessed part of the connecting rod 55.

From this middle part of the cross piece 36 two lateral wings 37 spread out, which are provided with dot-shaped elevations .or little pointed pins 38. To facilitate the access of the developing fluid from the bottom, the wings 37 have holes 39 in their middle parts. If the films are inserted into the grooves 33, their lower edges rest on these wings 37 of the cross piece and their lower edges then lie between two of such pointed pins or dot-shaped elevations 38, so that they are not only held in a vertical position but they are also safe against displacing in a transverse direction.

It is obvious, that plates could also rest on these lateral wings of the cross-piece if the guiding grooves for the plates are open at their bottom.

In a similar manner, a similar device is provided at the upper side of the implement preventing the films from being displaced in an upward direction, when the implement is moved upwards and downwards inside the developing tank. For this purpose a slider 40 is provided which slides over and fits on the handle 13, fixed onto the upper connecting rod 54 (Figs. 11, 12). In the shown example, the upper part of the slider consists of a frame of rectangular cross section, corresponding to the cross section of the handle, so that the slider can glide over the whole handle. At the corners of this frame there are slots '41, so that the blades thus formed are resilient to the inside and lean flexibly against the handle 13'. It will therefore be prevented that the slider can be shifted unintentionally by the comparatively small powers arising, While using the implement. in addition gaps 42 are provided on the broad sides of the frame, which are intended to prevent, the holes 43 of the handle that serve to hang up the implement, from being covered. From this rectangular frame two angularly bent wings 43 extend downwards; the vertical portion of these wings fit into a flattened, lateral part of the connecting rod 54, so as to support the wings, while the slanting parts 44 of thewings connected to the parts 43, have about the same "inclination as the top edges of the .lateral plates. These inclined parts 44 have at their lower side also pointed pins or other dot-shaped elevations 45 which engage between the plates or films and prevent them from being displaced in a transverse direction also at'the upper edges.

To facilitate the entry of the films into the implement suitably the attachment device may be used shown in Figs. 5'7, consisting of an upper plate 20, which .preferably is furnished with a slot 21 slightly reduced downwardly. At the bottom of the plate 20 two about V- shaped openings 22 are provided. The plate 20 is connected with a nearly vertical front plate 24 by lateral connecting parts 23, having a slanting direction. When using the attachment device it is fixed on the implement as shown in Fig. 11, so that the projections 16 engage the grooves 22 on the bottom of the plate 2.0 and the plate 24 comes to rest against the outer edges of the lateral plates 52 and 53 respectively. To keep this attachment device safely in its position lugs 27 are provided on the front plate 24, which engage recesses 28 provided on the lateral plates. Thus three easily discernible openings are formed, that could be felt with the fingers, even in the dark. These are opening 25 behind the attachment device, another opening 21 within the attachment device .and finally opening 26 between the plates 20 and .24.

Therefore, no difiiculty exists to get the films into the desired grooves, even in the dark. After one side is filled with three films, the attachment device is removed, put on to the other side and there three more films can be inserted into the grooves of the implement.

The attachment device could also be made in the manner shown in Figs. -17. In this case the device has an upper part arranged like a grate with slots 46 and below the grate-bars with V-shaped grooves 47, which engage the upper feeling notches 16 of the lateral plates when placed on them so that the two slots 46 come to rest above the first and the second of the film-grooves at the side plates 51, 52 and the hindmost grate bar serves as a guide for the insertion of the last film. The gratebars are held together by side-plates 48 at both ends; and in the front there is a frontal plate 49, having a piece 50 projecting towards the inside and engaging a corresponding recess 28 of the lateral plates, when placed in its operative position.

The illustrated construction of the lateral plates as well as of the attachment device is meant to be a development implement for developing six films or six plates simultaneously, that is to say that on each side of the central line a group of three films or plates may be entered. Such implement may also be built for a smaller or larger number of plates or films. In this case the attachment device must have a smaller or larger number of slots and grate-bars corresponding to the number of grooves.

Should the implement be used for development of plates or in other cases for films exclusively, then it would suffice to provide grooves or guiding notches as the case may be on one side of the lateral plates 52 and 53 only, or else to have one kind of grooves on both sides. To change from films to plates is very simple. The implement needs only to be disassembled and the lateral plates can then be turned by 180.

The implement may consist of any type of synthetic material, such as synthetic resins, plastic material, Plexiglas and the like, also hard rubber (vulcanite, ebonite) as well as thermoplastic material or metal that is not effected by the developing liquid, could be used.

To improve the discernment of the slots by feeling in the dark, it is recommendable to have special markings fixed to the corresponding feeling notches 16 of the lateral plates 2 and 3 or 52 and 53 respectively, e. g. (Fig. 4) on the right hand side, the first feeling notch could remain flat and plain, the second, could have elevations 29, preferably of semispherical form and the next feeling notches have hollows 3t) which also could be semispherical. Such markings are preferred when larger implements are used having more than three, for instance six or more slots on each side. In the latter case the markings may then alternate, so that e. g. the fourth agrees with the first feeling notch, the fifth with the second and so forth. Or additional markings, for instance several elevations or hollows one beside the other, or elevated or deepened lines, or other distinguishing markings may be provided.

The lateral plates 2 and 3 can be supplied with feet if it is not desired to locate them directly on the bottom of the developing tank.

The whole developing implement could be, of course, modified in many ways in its particulars from what has been described above without departing from the idea of the invention. For instance, the cross piece could be connected to the lateral plates by special connecting parts, or they could be fixed directly to them, whereby it would be suitable to have a crosspiece as Well as a slider for each of the two lateral plates. It is also unnecessary to fasten the lower connecting rod and the cross-piece to each other, but they could also be made of one piece, by die-casting or by some similar method.

The grate-bars of the grate-shaped upper part of the attachment device are generally sharpedged, whereas the foremost grate-bar is rounded off and broadened, so as to be able better to locate the different slots for the insertion of films, with the fingers in the dark. It is also possible, especially if a larger number of grate-bars is provided for a larger number of films, to equip these grate-bars with special markings, e. g. recesses, elevations or other special shapes in order to have a better orientation.

The guiding projections 31 serving for holding photographic plates, may be constructed prismatically. But it is suitable to make them conically by reducing them towards the outside beginning from their basis from which they project from the wall of the lateral plates 52 or 53 as shown in Fig. 11 at 58. Thereby the advantage is obtained, that only the outer edges of the inserted photographic plates or other developing objects always lean against the. guiding projections independent of their thickness or depth with which they stand between thesaid projections. prevented.

What I claim is:

1. Photographic developing apparatus for films, plates and prints carrying sensitive layers comprising lateral plates provided, at side faces facing each other, with a plurality of grooves extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction from the top to the bottom of said lateral plates and being open at least at one end, two connecting rods for connecting said plates at the top and bottom thereof so that the grooves at the sides facing each other are adapted to receive the films to be developed, means on one end of each rod to secure one of the plates to the rods, and means in the form of cooperating grooves and stop dogs provided on the other plate and the other ends of the rods whereby said other plate may be adjusted and fastened on said rods at different distances relative to both plates corresponding to different sizes of the films to be developed.

2. Photographic developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the said lateral plates having each on one side straight grooves for the insertion of sensitive plates or prints and on the other side curved grooves serving to receive films, and the plates being adapted to be assembled selectively in such a way, that either the one or the other of the two sides are in a working position.

3. Photographic developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said lateral plates being provided with curved grooves serving to hold films, said grooves being considerably broader than the films, and the walls between them, forming the grooves, being provided with projections adapted to guide the films within these broad grooves.

4. Photographic developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which a separate additional attachable device is provided to be placed on the upper side of the apparatus and comprising an upper part having a slot, a front plate connected to said upper part so as to form a second slot and sharp-edged projections provided at the upper end of said lateral plates and being adapted to engage recesses provided at the lower side of said upper part of the additional device, thereby locating said attachable device on the apparatus whereby the slot of the upper part leads an inserted film into the middle grooves of the lateral plates, whereas a film inserted into the slot between the said upper part and the front plate leads into the foremost grooves of the lateral plates, and a film that is inserted behind the attachable device is led into the back groove of the lateral plates.

5. Photographic developing apparatus for films, plates and prints carrying sensitive layers comprising lateral plates provided, at side faces facing each other, with a plurality of grooves extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of said lateral plates and being open at least at one end, two connecting rods for connecting said lateral plates at the top and bottom thereof so that the grooves at the sides facing each other are adapted to receive the films to be developed, said rods Thereby any damage of the plates is passing through .holes in .said plates and having at one end a plurality vof bayonet-shaped grooves and the other end being threaded and provided with a longitudinal key Way, .stop dogs provided .in said holes and being adapted to alternately engage one of said bayonet-shaped grooves and said longitudinal key way respectively to determine the desired Width between said lateral plates, and nuts screwed on said threaded end of each rod to secure the film after being assembled.

6. Photographic developing apparatus according to claim 5, in which a handle .is provided on at least one of the connecting rods and having ,a number of longitudinal- 1y spaced holes to suspend the apparatus so that with each displacement of the center of gravity of the apparatus by the adjustment of the lateral plates, one of the holes is always approximately in the vertical plane containing the center of gravity .of the apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED .STATITES PATENTS Hazell Nov. 18, 1 930 Leahey Aug. 14, 19-34 Schnelz Oct. 6, 1936 Pless Mar. 29, 1938 Morgan Mar. 28, 1-944 Boes Sept. 14, 1948 Ginsberg July 11, 1949 Grover Oct. 11, 1949 Jenkins Nov. 29, 1949 Magill Aug. 22, 1950 Schimizer Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1892 Great Britain Jan. 27, 1947 

